The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-12


Almost refused TO carry me, so that IL TOOK
me hours to cover the distance. Reaching
inc dock at last, l walked out ard TOOK
scat sea on the extreme end, facing the river.
Ihere was no one about, not living being
IN sight except as looked up tho dock and
the line OF street leading to 1t, which pre-.
sented TO my eye picture OF long lines OF
gas lamps fiaring in tho wind, and groups
OF people hurrying to ana FRO under the
shclter OF umbrellas L turned 10 the river
which splashed against the piers at my
iect, HOW cold ana foroidding IL looked,
and how the wind moaned in the rigging OF
the vessels lying along the piers and drove
the rain and spray before 1t. The black
SKY seemed to press down alove the masts
OF the vessels, and the ligb', that gloamcd
across the waters from the opposite shore
OF the broad river did little more than make
the darkness visible. A miserable. cur,
tied to the mast of small schooner lying
out in the stream, whined piteously to be
taken into the cabin by his master, but
without avail
earring not for the weather, l sat heed.
less OF the passing hours. MY mind was
again busy, going over the incidents OF my
life 80 soon, as Thought, to have an end
ing.
suddenly hand was laid on my Shout.
der, and a voice, gruff but kindly, asked
with rich Irish brogue: w hat would ye be
aither doin' here to-night' looked up. 1t
was police officer. My tongue failed me.
mad no answer to give him. what he sus-
pccted l don't know, but ne Kept nrm hoid
OF nv arm rs II he knew what my purpose
nad Dcen ana said: come now, thlnk we
mad betther be movin' along! Mechani-
cally, obeyed him, and rising, walked
with him up the dock to the street. Here
he released my arm, but continued along
with mo some distance, to what / suppose
was the end OF his beat and then IN kindly
tone, directed me: Now be OF wild We and
don't come BACK here again
"Once more started on an almless wan
dering through the deserted streets, but tho
happenings after this, Tor an hour or more,
are plank TO me, with the exception OF one
scene which Is ndeiioly impressed on my
mlnd. somewhere, during the nlgnt,
came across deep excavation, sewer
tnat was IN course OF construction IN tne
city. II must have been about midnight,
Tor tne men VINO were engaged upon u had
ior the time cropped tnelr work 10 eau tneir
luncheon. stood on the Drink and looked
oown into lts depths, ana watcneo tnem as
they sat ON the planking, amid DIRT ana
slime and all the noxious odors arising from
the sewer. Something OF the ferceness OF
wolhsh munger seemed to come over me as
lgazed' ana could with dimcuity restrain
mysel1 from cnmolng down ana snatchlng
some OF the food ferhaps IT was my weak.
ness that deferred me- stood there ana
watched until the men nnlsneo anu re-
sumed their laoors, ana again sou8nt my
lodgings.
"a new mode OF exit from existence had
suggested itself to me, and was IN 1ever'
ish haste 10 put II into execution AS coon
as l rcG,hsd my room lit the gas, ana
taxing pieces OF newspapers care1ully
stuhed all the keyholes and other crevices
through whicn air might enter the ROOM
Ihere was large chandelier IN the center
OF the room ana one oranch hght near inc
bureau IN the corner. Ihere were SIX jets
in the chandelier, and ut all these, as well
as Ut the branch, turned the gas on lull.
Ihen throw mysel1 on the ped ana waited.
"Rapidly feeling OF drowsiness came
over me- ana tnen all ac once was seileo
with terrible sense OF loneliness ana de.
spar. onapie 10 restraln myself !eii
sopning SO violently as 10 snake tne couch
on which lay. Ihen came heavy sense
OF surocatlon-thcn unconsciousness.
u awohe at last; IL was broad dayiight
ana ray OF pright winter sunshlne
streamed INTO inc room ana across my Pill
low. nero was ~ lnat was my nrst
tnought as l aroused mysei. MOI deao'
tnat was certain struggieo 10 my 1eet
Ihere were tne gas ]ets SUN turneo on.
STRUCK matcn ana appiieu IL 10 one Jet.
Inc name oio not catch. In moneht
sd" IL AL. my penurious iahuiaoy nuu lanu
my guess was ai.orwaro cohhrheo py ner
own hps) turned tne gas OH at inc meter
aiter she knew tnaI I'll her iooSers were IN
lor inc hishC' anu haa saved my me
oaVeo my iiae' no" lhe 'noush1 s.rach
nome 10 nc lwice savcu from sei-oe-
struction IN one hlshc, iel1 soiheo III the
room ana Tore tne WINDOWS open "iue, anu
as inc Drac'nS atnosPhere Oh out Oh doors
poured INTO tne room l tnrew lnyseiI INTO a
chair oy inc WINDOW ana ieahea my neao
OH my tremohhg hahds ana ourst INTO TEARS
OF tnankiuiness'
now the nright rays OF the sun dispelled
all the 1oul huulors 'nat had gathered ana
cahKereu apout my heart. 1 hasteheo 10
leave inc room, ana, totterhg ratner thah
walking, passed do"h the STAIRS ana INTO
the street.
Neachihe Ihc ceh.er ol tne Guy, 1ne hrst
person met was ieiiow bohemlan, VINO
greeteo me WIN; va Ieio", you're just
INC man was ioohlns lor' im III iucH'
ana nave scheihe Oh naho Leu US go over
mere 10 onarnes anu nave ootlie OF wine
anu we VIII talR u over.
aid not reiuse. naeed' re1usal
wouid not nave changed ms purpose, ana
anyhow we were nan way 10 the restaurant
De1ore ne nao hhisned MS saiutatlon. ihere
pint OF champagne was called Tor and dis.
posed OF ana meantime nc nad ordered
breakfast, ne was one OF the reckless
fellows nave spoken OF, Is now DEAD, poor
Fellow, put ne was one OF Inc Drightes'
writers nave ever met, YET one OF inc